A34689:3772
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first Epistle general of John by ... John Cotton ...A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...
London: printed by M.S. for Thomas Parkhurst, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2 It exhorts all to begin betimes to love God; begin never so soon, God hath prevented us, Rom. 11.35. it was an early love of Josiah, at twelve years of age when he sought after God, but Gods love was up before him; you cannot be in your love before him, though you begin as soon as you are warm in the womb, John Baptist was very early, when he leaped for joy in the womb, yet Gods love was before him; an Angel had appeared to his Father, and had promised a blessing, before John was begotten.
3 To teach old people, if God have prevented them with love long before, how should this stir them up to love God, and to be humbled for the want of love to God, that hath loved them so long? Shall we be to seek in our love to God and cleave to worldliness in our old times, and let God stay till our children be provided for? What an unworthy dealing is this with God? This should exhort all Gods servants that have had experience of Gods love, to acknowledge the freedom of Gods love. Job by Gods testimony, was a man that feared God and eschewed evil: What saith the Devil, Doth Job serve God for naught? No, but though God had stripped him of all, as he did, yet he had showed such marvellous love to his soul, as that he had just cause to love God for ever if God should not have bestowed on him one dram of wealth.
3 To teach old people, if God have prevented them with love long before, how should this stir them up to love God, and to be humbled for the want of love to God, that hath loved them so long? Shall we be to seek in our love to God and cleave to worldlinesse in our old times, and let God stay till our children be provided for? What an unworthy dealing is this with God? This should exhort all Gods servants that have had experience of Gods love, to acknowledge the freedome of Gods love. Job by Gods testimony, was a man that feared God and eschewed evill: What saith the Devill, Doth Job serve God for naught? No, but though God had stript him of all, as he did, yet he had shewed such marvellous love to his soul, as that he had just cause to love God for ever if God should not have bestowed on him one dram of wealth.